Design Strategies for

Net-Zero Energy
Buildings
Shading
(Lectures 12-13)
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Exterior shading devices
3. Design of overhangs and fins
4. Glazing as a shading element
5. Interior shading devices
6. Solar heat gain coefficient
7. Roof and wall reflectivity

2
Part of the year the sun is our friend, and part of the year it is our enemy!
3
Shading
Shading
• Required to prevent solar heating in the summer.
• Shading the whole building is beneficial, but windows
are crucial.
• Requires understanding of solar geometry.
1000 btu/ft2 = 3.15 kWh/m2
Shading
• All orientations except south receive maximum solar
radiation in summer.
• South windows desirable for shading and solar heating.
• East/west windows collect more than 2 times the solar
radiation of south windows on June 21.
• A skylight receives about 4 times the solar heating that
south windows receive on June 21.
In humid, polluted, and dusty regions, the diffuse-sky component is a large part
of the total solar load.
 In dry regions, the solar load consists mainly of the direct and reflected
components. However, reflective glazing can be a problem in all climates.
Shading
• Shading depends on the relative size of direct, diffuse,
and reflected solar load.
– Direct solar radiation: controlled by exterior shading devices.
– Reflected radiation: controlled by reducing reflectivity of
offending (reflecting) surfaces.
– Diffuse-sky radiation: hard problem because radiation comes
from a large exposure angle. Controlled by:
• Extra-large shading devices.
• Additional indoor shading devices.
• Shading within the glazing.

• Shading might conflict with the demand for daylighting!

Shading devices
• Not just to keep the sun
out but to allow as much
view as possible.

• Low solar gain glazing

also blocks much of the
winter sun and light from
the view.
Exterior shading
devices
Exterior Shading Devices

Each orientation requires a different shading strategy!

Exterior Shading Devices
• Horizontal overhang on south windows is very effective
during the summer.
• Although less effective, the horizontal overhang is also
the best on the east, southeast, southwest, and west
orientations.
• Small vertical fins work best on the north façade.

• East- and west-facing windows pose a difficult problem!

Shading Periods

• Envelope-dominated: affected by the climate because

it has a large S/V ratio and has modest internal gains.
• Internally dominated: small S/V ratio and large
internal heat gains from such sources as machines, lights,
and people.
Shading Periods
Characteristic Envelope-dominated Internally-dominated

Balance point temperature 15 °C 10 °C

Building form Spread out Compact
Surface-area-to-volume ratio High Low
Internal heat gain Low High
Internal rooms Very few Many
Number of exterior walls of
1 to 3 0 to 1
typical room
Yes, except in climates with No, except in very cold
Use of passive solar heating
no winters. climates.
Large office and school
Residences, small office
Typical examples buildings, auditoriums,
buildings, small schools.
theaters, factories.
Shading Periods
• Balance point temperature (BPT): outdoor
temperature below which heating is required.
– Consequence of building design and function, not climate.

• Overheated period starts at 5°C above the BPT since the

comfort zone has a range of about 5°C.
Shading Period: Lucknow

21st June (Solstice)

21st Feb 21st Oct

21st Jan 21st Dec

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
 21st Mar 21st Oct

21st Jan 21st Dec

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 21st Jun 21st Aug

21st Apr 21st Oct

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Shading south
windows
Horizontal overhang design

The sun easily outflanks any overhang the same width as the window.
 S. windows: example (my office)
N

l=?

2.25 m
AA

1.0 m
Window 0.75 m

Section AA
l=? S

Plan
 6
S facing 5,7
window
4,8

3,9

2,10
21st Oct,
altitude = 52° 1,11
12
End of lecture 12

31
 S. windows: example
N

l=?

2.25 m
AA

1.0 m
Window 0.75 m

Section AA
l=? S

Plan
S. windows: example
N

1.0 m
Window
Plan
l=?

21st Oct
S. windows: example
21st Oct

l = 2.25/tan(52°) = 1.8 m

2.25 m

52°

0.75 m

Section AA
S

The actual overhang is only 0.5 m. How to improve the shading?

S. windows: example
21st Oct

l = 2/tan(52°) = 1.6 m

2m

52°
1m

Section AA
S

Reduce the height of the window and increase the width

S. windows: example
• What will happen in winter?

21st June (Solstice)

21st Feb 21st Oct

21st Jan 21st Dec

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
 6
S facing 5,7
window
4,8

3,9

2,10

1,11
21st Jan,
12
altitude = 42°
S. windows: example
N

1.0 m
Window
Plan
l=?m

21st Jan
S. windows: example
l =?

42°

2m

52°

Section AA
S

Overhang length = 4.7 m. How to improve?

S. windows: example

0.5 m 42°

2m

52°

1m

Section AA
S

Summer overhang = 1.9 m, winter = 0.6 m.

S. windows: example

0.5 m 42°

2m

52°

1m

Section AA
S

What if full shading is required only till 21st Sep?

 6
S facing 5,7
window
4,8

3,9

21st Sep, 2,10

altitude = 63°
1,11
12
S. windows: example

0.5 m 42°

2m

63°

1m

Section AA
S

Summer overhang = 1.3 m, winter = 0.6 m.

S. windows: example

0.5 m

2m

63°

1m

Section AA
S

Overhang = 1.0 m.
Horizontal overhang design
• South window
– If passive heating is not required  fixed overhang.
– If both passive heating and shading  movable overhang.
– Sun comes from SE before noon and from SW after noon.
– Sun outflanks any overhang the same width as a window!
Horizontal overhang design
• South window
– Sun comes from the southeast before noon and from the
southwest after noon.
– Sun outflanks any overhang the same width as a window!
Shading east and
west windows
Shading E and W windows
• East and west window
– Use as few east and especially
west windows as possible.
– Have windows on east or
west facades face north or
south.
– Use short windows.
Shading Period: Lucknow

21st June (Solstice)

21st Feb 21st Oct

21st Jan 21st Dec

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
 6
E facing 5,7
window
4,8

3,9

2,10
21st Oct
β = 20°, φ = 115° 1,11
12
8 am
E. windows: example
N

25°

lapp
8 am 21st Oct
Window
l = lappcos(25°)
Plan
E. windows: example

lapp
2m

20°

1m

Section lapp = 2/tan20°

E
l = lappcos(25°)
lapp = 5.5 m, l = 5.0 m!!!
Shading for E and W windows
• East and west window
– Use as few east and especially
west windows as possible.
– Have windows on east or
west facades face north or
south.
– Use short windows.

– For best shading use vertical

shutter  but view is
blocked 
Shading north
windows
 6
5,7

4,8

3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Case 1: Does the north window need shading?

 6
5,7

4,8

3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Does the north window need shading?

 6
5,7

4,8

3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Case 2: Does the north window need shading?

Shading N windows
• Case 1 (latitude > 23.5 °N)
– Use vertical fins for shading during the morning and evening.
– Horizontal overhangs are not required.

• Case 2 (latitude < 23.5 °N)

– Use vertical fins for shading during the morning and evening.
– Use horizontal overhangs for shading during the afternoon.
– Horizontal overhang becomes must as we much below
23.5°N (e.g., Kanyakumari @ 8°N).
Shading N windows
• Case 1 (latitude > 23.5 °N)
– Use vertical fins for shading during the morning and evening.
– Horizontal overhangs are not required.
 6
5,7

4,8

D = 18°
3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Case 1: latitude > 23.5 °N

 6
5,7

4,8

D = 15°
3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Case 1: latitude > 23.5 °N

 6
5,7

4,8

D = 12°
3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Case 1: latitude > 23.5 °N

 6
5,7

4,8

D = 11°
3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Case 1: latitude > 23.5 °N

Shading N windows
• Case 1 (latitude > 23.5 °N)
– Use vertical fins for shading during the morning and evening.
– Horizontal overhangs are not required.

w l=?

11
N

l = w tanD
Shading N windows
• Case 2 (latitude < 23.5 °N)
– Use vertical fins for shading during the morning and evening.
– Use horizontal overhangs for shading during the afternoon.
– Horizontal overhang becomes must as we much below
23.5°N (e.g., Kanyakumari @ 8°N).
 6
5,7

4,8

D = 22°
3,9

2,10

1,11
12

Case 2
Shading N windows
• Case 2 (latitude < 23.5 °N)
– Use vertical fins for shading during the morning and evening.
– Use horizontal overhangs for shading during the afternoon.

w l=?

AA 75°

l = w tanD Section AA N
Shading N windows
• Case 2 (latitude < 23.5 °N)
– Use vertical fins for shading during the morning and evening.
• Use the fin design strategy (for latitude > 23.5 °N).

– Use horizontal overhangs for shading during the afternoon.

• Use the overhang design strategy for S-facing windows.
End of lecture 13